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Is There Any Side Effect Of Using Percocet And Tylenol For A Long Time?

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Posted on Fri, 17 Jan 2014
Question: I've been on Percocet for eight years two weeks ago I quit and start taking Tylenol three five days ago I quit both when I go to bed I sleep for couple hours and then I wake up and my tendons in my forearms and my muscles below my knee I want to rip out because all I want to do is stretch them are these part of withdrawals or something else
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Answered by Dr. Manisha Gopal (1 hour later)
Brief Answer: Appears to be drug withdrawal.. Detailed Answer: Hello and welcome to health care magic! I have read your question and found that you have been on Percocet for last 8 years ( reason not mentioned ) , you have quit it and started Tylenol , but now off both. Since you stopped them, you have sleep problems and variety of muscular discomfort, you want to do stretching inorder to feel better. You suppose that these may be related to your drug use. From my clinical experince I can say that these symptoms -- are due to long term use of Percocet, as it has an oxycodone in it as a component, along with other medicine for pain. Such medicines are ok if taken once or twice, for short term use, but long term lead to addiction and then may cause variety of withdrawal problems. Had I been treating you, I would have adviced to taper it down gradually....like, may be taking on alternate days for some weeks, then further reducing it, and finally stopping it. Sudden stopping of any drug after using for so many years almost always leads to some or the other problem. You should also meet a local doctor to get your blood test done, to check liver condition, and how to go about in reducing or changing the medicine . You must be taking it for some physical complaint, which will need some drug to control it. So, donot stop everything at once. ok Do not worry, as the symptoms you have suggested in question are not major issues, will possibily wean down in few weeks on their own. Hope the reply is useful Feel free to ask more questions for further clarification if you need, I'll be happy to answer them.. If you are satisfied , kindly rate the answer. Wish you good health! Dr. Manisha Gopal
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
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Dr. Manisha Gopal

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Practicing since :2005

Answered : 947 Questions

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Is There Any Side Effect Of Using Percocet And Tylenol For A Long Time?

Brief Answer: Appears to be drug withdrawal.. Detailed Answer: Hello and welcome to health care magic! I have read your question and found that you have been on Percocet for last 8 years ( reason not mentioned ) , you have quit it and started Tylenol , but now off both. Since you stopped them, you have sleep problems and variety of muscular discomfort, you want to do stretching inorder to feel better. You suppose that these may be related to your drug use. From my clinical experince I can say that these symptoms -- are due to long term use of Percocet, as it has an oxycodone in it as a component, along with other medicine for pain. Such medicines are ok if taken once or twice, for short term use, but long term lead to addiction and then may cause variety of withdrawal problems. Had I been treating you, I would have adviced to taper it down gradually....like, may be taking on alternate days for some weeks, then further reducing it, and finally stopping it. Sudden stopping of any drug after using for so many years almost always leads to some or the other problem. You should also meet a local doctor to get your blood test done, to check liver condition, and how to go about in reducing or changing the medicine . You must be taking it for some physical complaint, which will need some drug to control it. So, donot stop everything at once. ok Do not worry, as the symptoms you have suggested in question are not major issues, will possibily wean down in few weeks on their own. Hope the reply is useful Feel free to ask more questions for further clarification if you need, I'll be happy to answer them.. If you are satisfied , kindly rate the answer. Wish you good health! Dr. Manisha Gopal